title: [Neurocognitive and behavioral disturbances after adenotonsillectomy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adenotonsillectomy is an effective treatment for sleep-disordered breathing in children, but its ability to resolve neurocognitive issues, is not clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the outcomes of cognitive and behavioral disorders after one year of adenotonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the behavioral and cognitive abnormalities in 45 children with obstructive sleep apnea and 30 healthy controls, aged 3 to 13 years. Psychological tests were performed in both groups at baseline and at 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, all cognitive and behavioral disturbances were higher in the study group than in the control group: attention in 46.7% of cases in the study group versus 20% in the control group (P=.016), anxiety 60.9% versus 40.9% (not significant); memory 55.6% versus 36.7% (P=.019), spatial structuring 64.4% versus 36.7% (P=.017), hyperactivity 42.9% versus 12.5% (P=.016), and attention deficit 46.4% versus 8.3% (P=.003). After one year we observed more disturbances in all variables in the study group. However, significant differences remained only in spatial structure (31.3% versus 3.3%, P=.017), and attention deficit (40.5% versus 16.7%, P=.031). The percentages of patients that improved in one year were not significantly different between both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Behavioral and cognitive disturbances in children with sleep apnea were partially resolved following adenotonsillectomy. Improvements in the cognitive and behavioral variables did not differ significantly from those the normal evolution of the individual, and were independent of the resolution of respiratory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital General de Catalunya, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: eesteller@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteller
authors.affiliation: Práctica Privada, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: Unidad del Sueño, Hospital General de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Segarra
authors.affiliation: Unidad del Sueño, Hospital General de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Estivill
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioestadística, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girabent-Farrés
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Adenoamigdalectomía; Adenotonsillectomy; Alteraciones cognitivas; Alteraciones de conducta; Behavioral disorders; Cognitive impairment; Sleep apnea syndrome in children; Síndrome de apnea del sueño en la infancia